Hawaii State Department of Health State Laboratories Division Laboratory Preparedness and Response Branch Biological Response Section Discipline A – Analytical Track 1: Food Defense Project Summary: The Biological Response Section (BRS) of the SLD is an active member of the Laboratory Response Network (LRN). Since its creation in 2000 as a stand-alone emergency response laboratory, the BRS staff have been on the front-line in testing for bioterrorism (BT) related agents and other emerging infectious disease agents. In May 2004, SLD became an active member of the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN). Currently, the BRS of the SLD is the front-line for FERN in Hawaii. As a FERN Microbiology Laboratory, BRS-SLD is responsible for the rapid detection of microbial threat agents in food, provides diagnostic support in response to a large-scale food-borne outbreak and local outbreaks, and performs laboratory analyses in support of food security and surveillance activities. The main objective of this project is to ensure SLD's readiness to respond to any possible intentional microbial contamination of food products by maintaining a functioning BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratory facilities, including certification requirements, maintaining staff competency to perform food testing, maintaining necessary equipment for testing that are readily available when needed and ensuring the availability of reagents and supplies. SLD plans to test al least 50 food products for BT related agents of interest.